Protector cap



1943' J. a. BAUMGARTNER 4 ,31 ,069

PROTECTOR CAP Filed Feb. 25, 1-942 Patented F eb. 23, 1943 with STATESPATENT r 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to protector caps and in particular toa cap for covering the operatin or exposed end of pencil devices.

The use of drawn metal caps for capping pencil devices and the like iswell known. These metal caps have been used with ordinary lead pencils,for eyebrow pencils and for many other types of pencils where there wadanger of the exposed or operating end of the pencil becoming brokenfrom handling or storage, or of touching and possibly discoloringadjacent articles. The metal caps are usually formed in one piece andgenerally comprise a substantially conical portion closed at the tip orapex thereof and a cylindrical portion having an open end. Thecylindrical portion adjacent the open end is usually split in an axialdirection along one side thereof to provide for its being spread aparton insertion of a pencil therein. As a result the cylindrical bodyportion of the pencil is frictionally engaged by th cylindrical portionof the metal cap due to resiliency resulting from the split therein,whereby the cap is retained on the pencil and in a covering relationwith respect to the operating end thereof. These prior art metal capsalthough generally satisfactory are rather expensive because of theirmetal construction and further are unadapted, without appreciableadditional expense, to be colored or designed for harmonious blendingwith the coloring and design of the pencils with which they areassociated.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improvedprotector cap.

Another object of this invention is to provide a non-metallic protectorcap for pencil devices.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a non-metal protectorcap for pencil devices which is relatively inexpensive in cost, readilyadapted to be designed and colored to correspond with an associatedpencil, and which is releasably retained on the pencil by frictionalengagement therewith.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of a plasticprotector cap for pencil devices which is provided on the innerperiphery and intermediate the ends thereof with a substantially rigidaxially extending radially projecting portion having one end terminatingin such periphery and which is tapered in a direction axially of the capso as to frictionally engage a pencil device inserted within the cap.

Further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a complete assembly view of the protector cap of thisinvention with an associated pencil device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the protector cap takenapproximately along the line 2--2 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a transvers sectional view as seen along the line 33 of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawing the cap 5 of this invention is shown in Figs. 1and 2 being adapted for capping a pencil 6 having a cylindrical bodyportion l and a tapered or operating end E. For purposes of illustrationthe pencil 6 is shown as having a cylindrical body but it is understoodthat a pencil with a square or polygonal-shaped body can be protected inthe same manner. The cap 5 is of a substantially tubular or sleeve formcon structed in one piece and composed of Bakelite or like moldablmaterial. The cap is comprised of a cylindrical portion 8 and a taperedor conical portion 9, the junction of these tWo portions being indicatedat H]. The conical portion 9 is tapered inwardly away from thecylindrical portion 8 and is closed at the tip or apex end i I of thecap. The opposite end IQ of the cap 5, and at the cylindrical portion 8,is open to receive the pencil 6 therein. Intermediate the cap ends 5!and i2 are axially extending substantially wedge-shaped ribs or ridgesl3 formed on the inner periphery of the cap and projected radiallythereof. The ribs 23 (Fig. 3) are angularly spaced about the cap and aresubstantially rigid relative to each other and to the cap portions 8 and9. Each rib 3, at the end M thereof, terminates in the inner peripheryof the cap and is tapered in an axial direction toward the closed capend i i at an angle depending upon the angle of the tapered end E of thepencil 1.

In one embodiment of the invention the cap 5 is about one and onequarter inches long, with the rib or wedge-shaped portions 13 beingabout a half an inch long and extended substantially equal distances toeach side of the junction IU of the cap portions 8 and 9. Thecylindrical cap portion 8 has an inner diameter which is about onethirty-second of an inch greater than the diameter of the cylindricalbody portion 7 of the pencil 6, or about e e" greater than the diameterof a circle through the outside points on a polygonal or square-shapedbody. As is well known in the making of pencils the diameters of thesame type pencil vary appreciably. The cylindrical portion 8, therefore,is adapted to accommodate pencils of like kind regardless of any slightvariations in their relative diameters.

the ribs 13 all pencils adapted to be inserted within the open end I2 ofthe cap are frictionally engaged by the ribs regardless of any slightvariations in their relative diameters or the relative angles of theirtapered ends E. These variations,

of course, position the small ends of the tapered 7 pencil portions E ofthe pencils at slightlydifierent points in the cap 5. However,sufficient space is provided at the closed apex end H of the cap toallow for these variations so that the cap is always frictionallyretained on the pencil and in a protecting or covering relation with theoperating end thereof. By virtue of this engagement of the wedgeportions 13 with the pencil 6 there is accomplished a positivefrictional holding of the cap on the pencil while providing for .a freeand easy removal of the cap from the pencil when the end E thereof is tobe used.

From a consideration of the above description and drawing, therefore, itis seen that the invention provides a non-metal cap for pencil deviceswhich is of a rugged construction and easily manipulated to a cappingposition. Since the cap is of a non-metal construction, and composed ofa plastic material it can be readily colored or intricately designed tocorrespond with the design of the pencil without in any mannerincreasing 3 the cost thereof. The tapered construction of the wedgeportions 13 readily adapts the cap'to a plurality of pencil deviceshaving different ized diameters or tapered end portions withoutimpairing the efficient capping function thereof. Although thewedgeportions l3 have been described and illustrated as being plural innumber and :angularly spaced aboutthe inside of the cap '5, it isapparent of course'that a single wedge portion extending entirely aboutthe inside of the capmay be used within the limits of this invention. Itis also apparent, that in some instances the end I! of the cap may beleft open with the axial extension of the periphery of the cap providingsufficient protection for the operating nd 0f the pencil.

Although the present invention has been described with specificreference to a particular embodiment thereof it is to be understood thatit is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be madetherein which are within'th'e full intended scope of this invention asdefined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A protector cap for a pencil device, said cap comprising acylindrical portion and a conical portion joined at their adjacent ends,with an axially extending wedge-shaped portion projecting inwardly ofsaid cap at the junction of said cylindrical and conical portions, saidwedgeshaped portion adapted to frictionally engag a pencil device toretain said cap thereon.

2. In a pencil device having a tapered end, a

said cap being closed at one end and open at the other end thereof, anaxially extending ridge on the inner surface of said cap taperedinwardly towardsaid closed end and having one end thereof spaced fromsaid open end and terminating in said inner surface, said ridge engagingsaid tapered portion substantially at the large end thereof tofrictionally retain said cap on said pencil device.

4. In a pencil device having a tapered endportion, a cap for coveringsaid tapered portion comprising a cylindrical portion and asubstantially conical portion tapered inwardly away from saidcylindrical portion and closing said cap at one end thereof, said capbeing open at the opposite end thereof, a plurality of ridges angularlyspaced on the inner surface of said cap and extended axially thereof toeach side of the junction of said cylindrical and conical portions, eachof said ridges having one of their corresponding ends terminating in theinner surface of said cylindricalportion, said ridges on insertion ofsaid pencil tapered portion within the cap at said open end frictionallyengaging said pencil device substantially at the large end of saidtapered end portion to retain said cap on said pencil device.

5. A protector-cap open at one end for fitting over one end of apencil-like device to be frictionally retained thereon but adapted to beremoved therefrom with a substantially straight pull, said protector capbeing hollow on the inside and including on said inside a portion whichis substantially straight longitudinally of the cap extending from saidopen end, a tapered portion extending longitudinally of the cap awayfrom said substantially straight portion, and a projecting 'portiononsaid inside extending'longitudina'lly of thecap over the area of thejunction of said first two named portions andtape'ring inwardly into thecap in the longitudinal direction away from said open end.

6. A hollow protector-cap open at one end and adapted to fit over apencil-like device which has a substantiallystra ight body portion and asubstantially taperedend portion extending there,- from with a junctionportion therebetween, said cap on the inside "thereof having a plurality'of ridges extending substantially longitudinally of the cap, with eachsuch ridge extending from a point spaced from the open end andtapering-inwardly in the longitudinal direction away from saidopenend,with said ridges being adapted to frictionally engage'a pencil-lil edevice substantially at the junction portion of the device when theprotector-cap is placed on such device.

JOHN G. BAUMGARTNER.

